St. Ali Coffee Roasters is a coffee roasting company with their own coffee shop located in Southbank, Melbourne. What has now become a local institution, this coffee house also serves up delicious breakfast and brunch items, from expertly poached eggs, to more filling options like grilled ox tongue. Try the exciting selections like Koo Koo Ca Choo, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, My Mexican Cousin, Nanny's Goat Gruff and Pepe Saya's Fluffy Bits. Relax in the laid-back yet bustling environment and sip on a creamy and perfectly brewed coffee.

Brighten your day by starting it at Top Paddock, on Church Street. The charming restaurant serves a spectacular variety of breakfast and brunch preparations, of which their colorful hot cakes truly, well, take the cake! Other dishes not to be missed here include eggs Benedict, soft shell crab burger and Wagyu steak sandwich, among many others. Everything is made from fresh, local ingredients and served with wonderful home-style charm at Top Paddock. The coffee is always good, the place oozes an inviting vibe and the offerings are simply amazing.

Situated opposite the popular South Melbourne Market, Cafe Panette has a great atmosphere on market days and is cozy inside, with dark wood and an open fire. There are tables and chairs outside as well. The Italian accented lunch menu is small, but the pasta is impeccable. However, breakfast is the best time to visit. Good tea and coffee and delicious sourdough toast kick things off. The chefs also make perfect scrambled eggs and their own baked beans. Lighter options include cereals, muffins and crumpets.

Inexpensive, hearty meals and a bustling train station ambiance fuse to make this restaurant deservedly popular. Friendly and sometimes amusingly unprofessional waiters, a bar, a sunny balcony, a groovy lounge area, open fireplaces and a Brunswick Street-style of hip all combine to make Blue Train one of Melbourne's most emulated establishments. The varied menu includes many wok tossed and wood-fired options. Try the grilled sakanaki, wood-fired pizzas and noodle dishes.

Cumulus Inc is a lively restaurant located at Flinders Lane. The restaurant is known for its interesting selection of shared plates which is divided into oysters, charcuterie, salads, and fish and meat specials. They also serve up a breakfast and brunch that is beloved by everyone who tries it. Food is complemented with wine or beer. They also serve other spirits. They also have a special section above called Cumulus Up, dedicated only for wines. The staff is very attentive and can be relied upon for recommendations.

Unless you are catching the train at Balaclava station, you might miss this little gem. Literally under the railway bridge, it is much more pleasant than the location might suggest. Not much to look at from the street, the stainless steel counter inside does not seem very inviting either--until you spy the delicacies within. Wonderful open focaccias, bagels, home-made chowders and soups, mouth-watering pastas and salads defy their somewhat clinical surrounds. Once you are sitting in the cute courtyard enjoying a latte and a magazine from the newsagent next door, you just might want to miss the train altogether!

Sunny, warm and friendly, this is the place to spend a lazy day with little guilt (everybody else is doing it too) and lots of soul food to boot. Recently, plans were implemented to make the interior more sumptuous and refined. However, the outdoor vista remains the same, a perfect, people-watching and child-friendly vantage point.

Start your day with a hearty and pocket friendly early morning breakfast at Auction Rooms for just 12 dollars or step in at any time for strong coffee, zippy drinks and all-day breakfast items. Delicious lunch items like roasted beet salad and confit duck are also served from 11:00a onward. With open-brick walls, wood floors and a charming outdoor patio, the bustling restaurant has a cozy feel to it and is perfect for family meals.